The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of a higher rating for TBI, service connection for psychiatric impairment as secondary to TBI, and TDIU. The Veteran will need to provide SSA records and undergo new examinations to determine the current severity of her TBI and whether her stomach problems and blurred vision are residuals of her TBI. An opinion is also needed regarding whether her psychological impairment is at least as likely as not proximately due to or aggravated by service-connected TBI.
The deciding factor: The Board found that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining SSA records and conducting new examinations to determine the current severity of her TBI and its relationship to her stomach problems and blurred vision. An opinion regarding whether her psychological impairment is at least as likely as not proximately due to or aggravated by service-connected TBI was also needed.
- Claimed conditions
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Psychiatric Impairment
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 23, 2023
- Citation
- 23053079
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 23053079.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and its residuals, including unsteady gait, somnolence, and cognitive dysfunction. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible lay statements about in-service head injuries and subsequent seizures.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and therefore, service connection for TBI is denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance due to service-connected TBI with PTSD is granted, effective September 6, 2018.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension (SMP) based on the need for aid and attendance is granted due to his cognitive impairment resulting from a motor vehicle accident in 2018, which has rendered him unable to work and needing assistance with daily activities.
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